Jennifer Marek
“It is not always one big step, but a few steps ...

“It is not always one big step, but a few steps forward.”

~ Denise Junqueiro

This week we have the pleasure of sharing parts of the transformational story of one of our original clients – Denise Junqueiro. Denise and Tess met in 2014 when she was a fellow attending the California Agriculture Leadership Foundation program. Tess was a part of restructuring the Ag Leadership learning and seminars and provided the Leadership Coaching for the program. In fact, Denise was a great support when Tess Cox & Associates was just beginning to launch the business.

“It is not always one big step, but a few steps forward.”
Jennifer Marek
TRUST

We lead ourselves and our business by TRUSTING the foundation of our CHARACTER. As our client's learn to TRUST their own personal and professional integrity - they experience greater success by staying true to who they are AND through making decisions that are best for their organizations, teams and employees.

We're curious to know, "Do you have a word that is your focus for the 2025 New Year?" 

TRUST
Jennifer Marek
Manage Your Mindset on Behalf of Your Time

Last week we mentioned the most helpful question to ask when new tasks and responsibilities come up within your team:

is this urgent or is this important?

In fact, that question was posed earlier this year in a cohort we were coaching through The Engagement Blueprint. The question reinforced how important it is to ask – it’s on everyone’s mind when given a new task, project or goal.

It’s likely that most of the work you do is very important. At the same time, it may or may not be urgent. Click here for a quick coaching video on how to discern. Considering the time of day you have your best energy may influence how urgent a certain task, project or goal is. Considering your energy will help you to prioritize so you can utilize your mindset, behaviors and strategy within your peak performance times. (Note: we all have peak performance times.)

Manage Your Mindset on Behalf of Your Time

“It is not always one big step, but a few steps forward.”

“It is not always one big step, but a few steps forward.”

“It is not always one big step, but a few steps forward.”

~ Denise Junqueiro

This week we have the pleasure of sharing parts of the transformational story of one of our original clients – Denise Junqueiro. Denise and Tess met in 2014 when she was a fellow attending the California Agriculture Leadership Foundation program. Tess was a part of restructuring the Ag Leadership learning and seminars and provided the Leadership Coaching for the program. In fact, Denise was a great support when Tess Cox & Associates was just beginning to launch the business.

Your INVESTMENT of TRUSTING YOUR ENERGY

Your INVESTMENT of TRUSTING YOUR ENERGY

“As we each entered this world, we came forth with our own unique ENERGY. Where we place our energy and how we use our energy is a CHOICE we have the opportunity to make every day.” 

– TC&A

 

In week 1, we mentioned, our ENERGY is the one thing we can influence, choose, connect to and even, regulate. As readers of “Your Choice,” you know well that your energy is at the core of who you are, how you communicate, how you make decisions and how you choose to create meaning and impact in the world. Put simply, but not lightly: 

Your energy matters and influences the direction of your life.

Your energy is felt, received and responded to by others, as well. While you are not responsible for how others feel, receive or respond to your energy, it is the conscious choice as a leader, to guide, lead and manage your energy toward the best of outcomes for your own self and everyone you work and live with.

Trusting Your Energy

Trusting Your Energy

Every day, you utilize your ENERGY. You, may or may not be aware of your utilization of your ENERGY within the work you do or the life you are living. You may simply TRUST that your ENERGY will show up for you, guide you, lead you.

For several years now, Tess and I have been talking about ENERGY within our one-on-one coaching, team building, seminars and on our YouTube channel. We are aware of the affects both positive or negative energy has on individuals, teams and leadership within the workplace.

So, “why” do we communicate “it’s so important to pay attention to your energy?” Our answer, “it is the one thing we can influence, choose, connect to and even, regulate.”

With a greater knowledge about what is going on inside of you regarding your energy, you can experience a deeper connection to managing your own energy in a healthy and positive way.

TRUST

TRUST

We lead ourselves and our business by TRUSTING the foundation of our CHARACTER. As our client's learn to TRUST their own personal and professional integrity - they experience greater success by staying true to who they are AND through making decisions that are best for their organizations, teams and employees.

We're curious to know, "Do you have a word that is your focus for the 2025 New Year?" 

Your Investment In Building Trust

Your Investment In Building Trust

“TRUST is the key to MOTIVATING yourself, others, your team or organization. It is the one thing that will INSPIRE yourself to lead with your INTEGRITY.”

– Tess Cox & Chelsea Cox Gillman

 Within the absence of TRUST, fear takes hold. Fear will create anxiety, distress and panic. When you find yourself in fear…pause and take a deep breath. And, while you are pausing and taking a deep breath – give yourself space to return to TRUST within yourself.

The One Thing

The One Thing

What is the ONE Thing you need to focus on in this New 2025 Year? Is there ONE Thing? You may have several things that you want to place your focus in this New 2025 Year of living, working, playing and being in relationship with others.

Within the Leadership Coaching Journey, there are no right or wrong answers. It’s possible, your ONE Thing is to work towards a promotion, more financial security, better health mentally, physically and spiritually, buying a home or fostering more meaningful relationships. And, it is probable, there are other ONE thing thoughts you would like to put your focus.

The Gift of Conversation

The Gift of Conversation

The calendar is counting down as we gather with family, friends and co-workers during this Holiday Season. Whether you’re traveling to see family, celebrating with friends and enjoying Holiday parties with co-workers - we know there are many different story lines, personality preferences, diverse ways of seeing and understanding, and varying thoughts, views and opinions when interacting with others.

Our Leadership Coaching support is more than wishing you, “Good Luck,” as you engage and navigate your conversations - Our Leadership Coaching reminder is:

 “You ALWAYS have the POWER to DECIDE

how you want to lead yourself when interacting with others.”

Continue Your December with Intentional Choices

Continue Your December with Intentional Choices

Every day you have choices that influence and impact your life experiences and outcomes at work. Who you CHOOSE to be and what you CHOOSE to do affects both your personal and professional life.

As you know, we are always here to support you and want the best for you! We are excited to share our holiday gift to you this year as we’ve created our ‘Your Daily Choices’ December Calendar.

Start Your December with Intentional Choices

Start Your December with Intentional Choices

Every day you have choices that influence and impact your life experiences and outcomes at work. Who you CHOOSE to be and what you CHOOSE to do affects both your personal and professional life.

As you know, we are always here to support you and want the best for you! We are excited to share our holiday gift to you this year as we’ve created our ‘Your Daily Choices’ December Calendar.

"Gratitude is always EVOLVING"

"Gratitude is always EVOLVING"

Every day, we have a choice for gratitude to exist and live within us.

Gratitude is always available and forever EVOLVING.

 When being responsible for our own Gratitude, we can begin from within – Our Inner Gratitude and the words we speak to ourselves influences our outcomes.

When being responsible within every interaction, our foundation of Conversational Gratitude influences our experiences – The function of our brain activity inspires all of our interactions with others.

When being responsible for our daily practices and strategies – Our Attitude of Gratitude will multiply our happiness when living and working with others.

 May we ALL enjoy our Holiday’s with the tools and resources we have available to us and may we stay in the mindset of GRATITUDE.

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

“Combining an attitude of gratitude with what is important to you internally and externally will guide your actions both personally and professionally.”

-The Engagement Blueprint

As we learned from the TC&A newsletter in week 1 about Inner Gratitude and week 2 about Conversational Gratitude. We trust you are seeing how gratitude influences your inner words that you speak to yourself and how conversational gratitude influences each part of your brain when interacting and connecting with others. 

Your inner being and your brain are meant to work together, in order to create genuine and transparent interactions with those you care about, those you engage and work with and those you barely know – Your starting place of gratitude influences everyone and everything around you.

Conversational Gratitude

Conversational Gratitude

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said,

 people will forget what you did, 

but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

-Maya Angelou

 

The quote above by Maya Angelou is one of our favorite quotes at TC&A. It is a mindset that Chelsea and I seek to lead our own selves, as we coach and lead our clients.

The ability to raise our own consciousness and mindfulness that everything we communicate has the power to positively or negatively “trigger” physical and emotional changes within our brains and our bodies – truly, one of the most important things we can learn when building relationships through our conversations and communication.

One of my mentors through learning, podcasts and her book, “Conversational Intelligence – How Great Leaders BUILD TRUST and Get Extraordinary Results” by Judith E. Glaser supports the neuroscience within conversations. The foundation of understanding how our five brains are hardwired for supporting our ability to interact with others impacts our outcomes in a positive or negative way. 

Your Choice for Inner Gratitude

Your Choice for Inner Gratitude

“Your Internal Words Shape WHO You Are.”

– Tess Cox

 Welcome to our TC&A November Newsletter.

As we embrace a new month and enter into the celebration season of Thanksgiving and the Holidays, I (Tess) am going to begin by taking us on an inner journey of gratitude. 

It’s probable that my age has something to do with my thought process and desire to write about an inner journey of gratitude. I’ve learned over my lifetime, that the way I choose to speak to myself inwardly, shapes and forms my outcomes. I have found that my internal dialogue about myself and who I am … MATTERS. 

All of Your CONFIDENT Choices Matter!

All of Your CONFIDENT Choices Matter!

“A confident leader is one who is able to celebrate the wins of others,

compete with good intent, have courageous dialogue to enhance relationships

and stay resilient during challenging times.”

– Tess Cox, The Leadership Blueprint

As the month of October newsletters come to a close, we turn our focus towards CONFIDENCE. We are reminded that Confidence is a natural byproduct of living well within our Character, Competency, Consistency & Creativity.

Think about the foundation of your Character or the way you lead yourself with your Competency, Consistency and Creating positive relationships. Where might you feel the most confident within one of these four C’s?

Your Inner Pillars of Strength: Competence, Consistency, Creativity

Your Inner Pillars of Strength: Competence, Consistency, Creativity

Welcome back to ‘Your Choice,’ we are so happy to be on this journey with you, where we share knowledge and insights into building who you are as a leader and as a human. We believe in your abilities to experience the best of outcomes and your opportunities to turn all of your desires into reality. One thing we know to be true: every desire we want to turn into a reality, needs a strong foundation.

Sample Character qualities are: Honest, Trustworthy, Reliable, Respectful, Fair and Resilient.

Last week, we shared the story of The Leadership Blueprint: Becoming the Architect of Your Life & Work and encouraged you to tune into your Character qualities. Your Character is the foundation from which everything else you want in life and work is built upon. Your transparency with who you are, will be experienced with how sustainable your foundation is. So, it matters most to you to be truthful, open and honest with the strength of your Character qualities.

With a Solid Foundation, Opportunities Expand

With a Solid Foundation, Opportunities Expand

Welcome back! This week we are taking you back to 2017 when Tess’s first book: The Leadership Blueprint: Becoming the Architect of Your Life & Work was published. Tess had a vision that the principles of the book would be the foundation for TC&A and her life moving forward. Not surprisingly, her intuition was correct. 

I’m excited to share how I, Chelsea, went ALL IN with the 5 C’s when I chose to transform my life back in 2016. I was at a crossroads after an all-consuming work and life adventure led me to complete burn out. I had a difficult choice to make. 

Keep going as I was….succeeding in important hotel roles and achieving external success

OR

 Take the path less traveled…go inward, learn more about the core of who I was and start to pave a new path forward where true success was found internally from my own being

What happened next was almost… unbelievable! 

The Foundation of Opportunity

The Foundation of Opportunity

Welcome to our first Fall Newsletter of 2024! We are grateful to be in your inbox every Monday with ‘Your Choice.’ Our intention is to provide you with support, encouragement and opportunity to grow in who you are, grow in your abilities to lead and manage your team and experience overall growth in your business and life.

As you read about the TC&A Origin story in September, for the month of October, we are expanding upon the opportunities of our business story. Over the years, we have had many learning, growth and celebratory experiences in leading TC&A, we trust our intentions and our encouragement will support you creating your own opportunities. 

The Full Circle of TC&A

The Full Circle of TC&A

This quote tends to summarize our TC&A experience and existence:

"Keep Believing in Your Potential.

Keep Utilizing Your Strengths.

Continue to be a Lifelong Learner.

~

You will find that you will experience

 more than you ever IMAGINED."

- Tess

Because of YOU - You have given TC&A more than we could ever have IMAGINED. And, by serving YOU, we continue to IMAGINE EVEN MORE…

Chelsea and I LIVE every day of our LIVES to LEAD ourselves, FIRST, so that we can LEAD & COACH YOU. 

Emerging Opportunities

The TC&A Origin Story Continued...

Remember from week 1, I was riding the wave of great opportunities within Leadership Development and Coaching as an Independent Contractor with my mentor and his company.

Remember from week 2, HARD decisions were made from CEO’s and my mentor. The HARD decisions were beyond my control. It was a very difficult and, challenging time. And, I had a choice what to do and how to move through the HARD.

What was interesting – I was still contracted with the non-profit and multi-faceted world of Agri-Business. 

What was interesting even further – as individuals graduated from the program, many requested further Leadership Coaching. They were finding it difficult to transition from being in a learning environment with a full focus on personal and professional growth and development and being in their workplace of roles and responsibilities where the company or organization had not changed – BUT, they had changed! TC&A had a new vision and a new purpose.

What was even more interesting to me and the opportunity I saw

– Leadership Coaching has a place in every workplace!

Wherever there are people and all of their differences within their stories, education, life experiences, relationships and work experiences, there is an OPPORTUNITY for Leadership Coaching. Along with all of the other opportunities, in support of Leadership Development with Individual Coaching, Triangle Coaching, Team Building, Seminars and Team Retreats.

When TC&A began over 8 years ago, the focus was to bring Individual Coaching and Team Building to businesses as ownership and leadership saw the need to develop their employee’s and teams. I am grateful that 8 years later, more and more business owners and leadership understands the benefits of developing themselves, their employees and their teams with our wide range of TC&A Leadership Development Services. 

What is most meaningful to TC&A is – Serving you, our clients. What a privilege to serve you and to support your journeys within your roles and responsibilities and within your personal life, also. Everything we bring to Leadership Coaching and Development, we practice ourselves, as well.

Over the years, as Chelsea has joined TC&A, we have learned that something new can be birthed when we are willing to serve others.

We’re curious, is there something in your work and life that you have created when seeking to serve others?

KEY Words to Remember from our TC&A story:

Interesting, Focus, Meaningful, Growth, Something New, Serve

What are KEY Words that stand out to you?

We are here to support you and/or your organization in the ongoing journey of being the leader of yourself, first. We encourage you to engage with our opportunities, listed here, and look forward to your continued growth and expansion in all ways.

A STORY OF CHALLENGES & NEW OPPORTUNITIES

A STORY OF CHALLENGES & NEW OPPORTUNITIES

THE ORIGIN STORY OF TC&A Continued…

Upon working over seven years with my, (Tess) mentor and leader of his company, we were enjoying ALL of the benefits of serving our clients. We both loved the Leadership Development, Coaching and Training that we were doing and the influence we were having upon the lives of leadership. It truly was a transformational time for many who were learning more about leading themselves within their roles and responsibilities.

Then, we experienced a turn of events simultaneously. Within weeks of one another, the high-end Tech Company and the Hospital hired new CEO’s, which we knew, as we were a part of the conversations. Within a short period of time…both of the CEO’s, of the Tech company and Hospital had different ideas, plans and visions for their organizations, which was not predicted due to our conversations. And, they both made a decision about our contracts that were up for renewal - they were NOT going to be renewed! With respect, both the Tech company and Hospital made budgetary decisions versus what was going to be best for their leadership overall.